No end to West Ham misery

A stoppage-time goal by James Beattie, his ninth goal in eight games, gave Southampton an undeserved victory in manager Gordon Strachan's 50th game in charge.

Beattie got in front of Christian Dailly to steer Brett Ormerod's left-wing centre past David James and one can only sympathise with Glenn Roeder, West Ham's manager, whose team had done everything but score.

The Upton Park faithful left no one in any doubt who they see as the villain of the current situation - and it is not Roeder.

"Sack the board" and "Brown out" the supporters chanted, a reference to Terry Brown, probably the most anonymous chairman in the Premiership.

Many stayed behind to vent their frustration at the board but the way the fans backed Roeder and the commitment of the players underlined the support for the manager.

However, the reality is that West Ham are rooted at the bottom of the Premiership, searching for their first home win. The board should be strong and not panic but history shows it is managers rather than chairmen who are replaced when things go wrong.

Southampton, unchanged from the team who had beaten Arsenal 3-2, arrived 30 minutes before kick-off after being delayed in traffic. They had been training at the house of Rod Stewart in north London - the football-loving singer and Scotland supporter is a friend of Southampton manager Gordon Strachan.

Only the fact that Strachan was able to phone chairman Rupert Lowe, who had travelled independently, to give over his starting XI avoided a possible fine for a late handing in of the team sheet.

West Ham's team showed one change from the side beaten 4-1 at Aston Villa with Tomas Repka replacing the suspended Edouard Cisse. However, their formation raised just about every eyebrow inside Upton Park because defender Ian Pearce partnered Jermain Defoe up front with Paolo Di Canio operating just behind the front two.

This was no doubt encouraging news for anyone who had backed Pearce at 33-1 to score the first goal - playing as an emergency striker for Blackburn Rovers he had once scored the winner at Upton Park.

Pearce was moved forward because Frederic Kanoute had still not recovered from the groin injury that had kept him sidelined for nine weeks.

It was Defoe who should have broken the deadlock in the ninth minute but, following a corner, his volley from seven yards went wide. Trevor Sinclair was similarly wasteful with a free header from Di Canio's free-kick on the right flank.

West Ham, with Michael Carrick prominent, had most of the possession and only timely tackles prevented the goal-bound progress of Joe Cole and Defoe.

Good work by Di Canio put Pearce clear and he unleashed a fierce eight-yard shot from which Antti Niemi made a magnificent reaction save.

Rory Delap, whose shot was saved by David James, and James Beattie, with a header that was narrowly wide, gave notice that on the counter-attack the visitors could move forward with pace and precision.

It was also worrying for the Hammers that Beattie was first to Fabrice Fernandes's right-wing centre, with the goalkeeper relieved that the striker's header went over.

Niemi did well to block a long-range low drive from Defoe with his chest after 58 minutes as the ball bounced awkwardly.

West Ham put together a good move down the left after 61 minutes as Winterburn's long ball was headed inside by Defoe and Di Canio's 20-yard drive was deflected wide.

Much of West Ham's approach play was outstanding one-touch passing football. Their problem was that the final pass was too often poor, though twice from Pearce flick-ons Defoe was profligate.

West Ham had created a dozen scoring opportunities after an hour and led 6-0 on the corner count - Southampton's first came in the 70th minute - and it seemed that Roeder's side were doing everything but score.

Strachan needed some attacking thrust and after 66 minutes he took off Oakley and put on Ormerod. Di Canio picked up a knock and was replaced by John Moncur with 14 minutes remaining, just as his team survived a good shout for a Saints penalty. Beattie was charged to the floor by Repka as he chased Ormerod's pass, but referee Riley again waved away the visitors' appeals.

West Ham's hard work almost came undone with seven minutes remaining as James got in a tangle with Rory Delap before scrambling the ball clear. But West Ham were shattered when Beattie crashed home the winning goal to leave the home team firmly rooted to the foot of the table - the goal coming 71 seconds into injury time.